The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-02

barred out either from the magnitude
of the deal or his inability to see the
big mans pile. Hence the history OF
events recorded and unwritten would
show this to be very dangerous pre-
rogative and an equally dangerous ex-
pedent. The cost to the people OF this
state, were radical change OF all or
any considerable portion of the school
books contemplated, would, even
though the cost to each oh ld of scho-
lastic age amounts 10 but one dollar
aggregates the vast sum OF 100000 and
the people, that cosmopolitan body
whose wealth largely consists IN an
honorable progeny must bear TINS
enormous burden, II burdeh imposed
upon them by the caprices whms
and..selfsh interests OF the few.
Experienced teachers. intelligent
boards of education and competent
trustee. removed from the insatiate
averice of the lordly publishers, are
quite equal to the task of selecting text
books for their own schools, and this
authority delegated to others to sub
versve of democratic principles and is
wrong in fact, as would be the selcc-
ton OF school site or the letting of a
contract for school building by prac-
tically disinterested parties.
The adoption and enforcement OF the
county uniformity bill would compel
tho use of such books as may be Sc
lectcd for period Of five years, and
whether good, bad or Indifferent COM
pels them to be used during the period
for which they were adopted regardless
of the merits of other books that may
have been made in the meantime OF
vastly superior merit and mechanism
and may be at greatly reduced prices as
compared with the books contracted
tor County uniformity cannot pro-
vide for the progress of the age, in con
stantly bringing out books OF greater
merit, more perfect binding, printing
and greater excellence in matter.
County uniformity gives an unusual
opportunity for a few enterprsing and
wealthy publishers to secure the use OF
their books Throughout! the whole state
and thereby become rs great monop-
oily rs the greatest railroad monopoly
of the age. As an Illustration, suppos-
ing four or tive OF the rich publishers
OF the East, see fiji to form II combna-
ton for the adoption aud introduction
of their books in any state where county
uniformity prevails,and, rs before stated
send their skilled agents with plenty OF
money, and persuasive arguments, to
to secure the adoption of the books
these powerful houses represent. The
decree goes forth from The compact,
that the arithmetics OF one house, the
Biographies OF another house, the
readers of third house, tho grammars
of Il fourth house, and the histories Of
the fifth, shall he the list of books
worked for by the combination for
adoption in that county.
The nearer that the details OF the
public school system is kept TO the
people, corresponding strength and
vitality will be shown. This is not
only Il tangible conclusion deduced
from careful analysis of the subject,
but it is borne out by the experience of
all the states that have, either from
good or bad motives, cN .crimented
with this county and state uniformity
question. The people, in their indi-
vidual capacity. rs they would be
levied on per capita were this bill to
become Il law, cannot protest too vehe-
mently against this proposed innova-
ton, and they should petition their
members to kill all this kind
OF legislation without the benefit of
cIprOv